A closed beta build of Android 9 Pie-based HydrogenOS for OnePlus 5T has leaked out on the internet. This means that the Open Beta version of the same is just weeks, if not days away. This leak comes right after OnePlus revealed that the Android 9 Pie-based update was coming “coming soon”. HydrogenOS is different from OxygenOS, the variant of the operating system that OnePlus ships to the international market. The company only ships HydrogenOS to its customers in the Chinese market. Both the variants of the operating system share the same code base and are different in two key aspects, the upper layer or the user interface and the absence of Google services in HydrogenOS.
For the people who may not be in the loop, the reason OnePlus does not ship Google services with HydrogenOS in China is that Google services are blocked in China. The reason for changes in the UI is because of the preference of the users in China. Looking at the leaked close beta, the update brings the new OnePlus UI to the device. According to a detailed change-log posted by XDA developers, the build brings “new background control solution” along with the new full-screen gestures. These gestures are likely to be limited to OnePlus 5T only.
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Other changes include Android P shutdown interface, SMS verification code opens on the display so that users can easily check the code, optimizations to number identifications, ability to assign a SIM to individual contacts or contact groups, new calling UI, and optimized Weather app.
In addition to there variants, the company usually ships three different versions of any major update. The first is a closed beta test where OnePlus only invites a select number of users to test the new update and report bugs. The second version that the company launches is the Open Beta build which is available for installation for all the users in the market. The third and last version is the stable build that eventually rolls out to all the devices in the market once all the bugs are fixed in the software.
In addition to working on Android 9 Pie update for the OnePlus 5 and 5T, the company also indicated that it is working on bringing the update for OnePlus 3 and 3T users. Android 9 Pie-based closed beta of HydrogenOS for OnePlus 5T leaks out on the internet
